Matthew Sinclair
Chef, science teacher, and now the accountant known as Matt of all trades
A Senior Accountant in the PBFA team, Matthew Sinclair arrived at Pitcher Partners Newcastle and Hunter by way of a commercial kitchen, a high school science classroom, and a university group assignment that changed the course of his career.
Dessert, degrees and detours
Growing up in Newcastle, Matthew spent his early years working in his family’s restaurants, developing a love of food, wine and hospitality that stays with him to this day. But it was science that captured his imagination most. Armed with a Bachelor of Science majoring in chemistry and physics, he went on to complete a Bachelor of Education, stepping into a high school science classroom where he discovered a genuine talent for bringing students to that light bulb moment.
“Teaching is very, very rewarding when students have that light bulb moment and want to know more,” he says.
A pivot toward accounting
Teaching, however, came with its own challenges. Career development and job security proved to be concerns Matthew couldn’t set aside, and so he made the decision to pivot once more, this time toward accounting. The turning point came during a university group assignment, where a chance connection with classmate Kirsten Faulkner, now part of the superannuation division at Pitcher Partners, led to an introduction to the firm. Matthew joined in August 2020.
The firm’s ethos resonated with him immediately. A self-described people person, Matthew was drawn to the middle market and the depth of relationship it allows with clients.
“Making business personal. I want to take clients on the journey of business and investment, the good and the bad,” he says.
“I don’t want to work somewhere that is so large it’s disconnected from the people we help and support.”
For clients, their business is deeply personal, and the work reflects that through real relationships, meaningful advice, and long-term growth. With diverse client exposure across industries, evolving tools and technology, and a collaborative team culture that’s both supportive and approachable, we offer a career where every engagement brings something new and rewarding.
Finding his footing
Early in his career, Matthew worked across a broad range of compliance clients, from primary producers and haulage operators through to manufacturers and builders. That breadth proved invaluable, giving him a strong foundation before his work expanded into reporting and project work.
Matt of all trades
It’s the project work that has become something of a calling card. Matthew is now regularly sought out for special projects and process reviews, helping businesses identify opportunities for improvement and working through implementation alongside them. The enthusiasm he brings to it is unmistakable.
“The second I’m approached by a manager or partner with a project, I almost squeal with excitement,” he says.
It’s a pattern that has repeated often enough that his colleagues have given him a fitting nickname: Matt of all trades.
His teaching background has also found a second life in how he leads his junior team, guiding them through their development with the same patience and investment he brought to the classroom.
The phone call he still thinks about
The professional milestone Matthew returns to most often isn’t a technical achievement. It’s a phone call. After working with a haulage client for several years, the moment finally came to ring and tell them they had crossed their first million dollars in revenue.
“They stopped at the nearest pub with their dog and had a celebratory beer,” he recalls. “Getting to have that phone call is a memory I still think about.”
Beyond the desk
Outside of work, Matthew’s range extends well beyond the office. He is an avid leatherworker, ceramicist, cyclist, baker, 3D printing enthusiast, and self-described follower of anything AI. He is also a committed participant in Pitcher Partners’ community events, from Meals from the Heart at Ronald McDonald House to Spin for Kids, the latter of which he cheerfully admits almost finishes him off every year.
For those just starting out, Matthew’s advice is to stay open to where curiosity leads.
“I didn’t think I’d be as excited about project work as I am,” he reflects. “I have a passion for science. I’m a firm believer that anything is possible, you just need to figure out how. That’s a belief I hold and apply every day.”
From the kitchen to the classroom and now the boardroom, it’s a belief that has served him well.
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